German
Bundestag, September 10, 2020, Plenarprotokoll 19/173, pp. 21703-21705
Right
honorable Herr President. The Frau Minister is unfortunately no longer present.
Ladies and gentlemen.
Today
we deliberate on the so-called Second Family Relief Bill. It concerns the
increase of the child subsidy [Kindergeld]
and the child allowance [Kinderfreibeträge]
on January 1, 2021. As a reminder: Article 6 of the our Basic Law states: “Marriage
and family are under the particular protection of the state order.” The family,
consisting of father, mother and children, is the nucleus of our state.
Dagmar Ziegler (SPD): That is likely
your interpretation.
Matthias Birkwald (Linke): That’s
not in there.
Unfortunately
for years a weakening of this article and change in the sense of family have
been taking place in Germany.
Michael Schrodi (SPD): Speak on the
bill.
There
was then certainly no other sense of family. We agree to the planned increase
of 15 euros per month in the child subsidy, yet hold this to be next to nothing
in regards the problems which today confront a family with children. In the
text of the bill, I discern no real reduction of the cold progression. A possible
increase in the minimum livelihood for tax-obligated persons and their children
was in fact mentioned, yet a yearly income of approximately 56,000 euros is
still hit with the top tax rate of 42 percent. Why has this amount not been
increased? For years, unchanged – a scandal!
Which
measures can actually promote families? To overcome the demographic
catastrophe, the family must win back its economic integrity. And a sole earner
should be able to care for a family with multiple children with his income. On
that account, there is pressure in many cases to give up even the smallest
children, virtually after birth, to the day-care nursery. The overwhelming
majority of mothers want to care for their children themselves at home until
the age of three.
Steffi Lemke (Greens): Rubbish!
This
is regrettably very often prevented on financial grounds. Calculations show that
in general the cost of a day-care or kindergarten place is about 1,100 euros
per month.
Dagmar Ziegler (SPD): That is money well
invested!
That
would be money well invested with the mother who herself cares for her child at
home.
Steffi Lemke (Greens): Have even
once heard of men who care for the children?
From
its founding, the AfD has been committed to the introduction of a family
splitting instead of a marriage splitting. According to the contract of
generations, today’s adults care for the contribution payers of tomorrow.
Unfortunately, the number of the childless grows.
Could
you allow me to speak? That would be very nice.
Katrin Werner (Linke): Nein, such idiocy does not go at
anytime!
Moreover,
ask yourselves whether you –
Vice-president Hans-Peter Friedrich: Dear
colleagues, please allow Frau Gminder to speak.
Unfortunately,
the number of the childless grows amongst the college-educated and this weakens
the future prospects. The contribution apportionment for sickness, pension and
care insurance should lead to a direct relief of families with children; since
these contribute disproportionately to the insuring of the childless. For ten
years, a parents’ suit has been before the Federal Social Court in Kassel. In
this context, I recall a statement of Professor Jürgen Borchardt, social judge
in Darmstadt; I hope it is known to you.
Wolfgang Strengmann-Kuhn (Greens): Yet
it would be very annoying if you quote it.
Domestic
care-giving performed by the family for the children and for aged parents
deserves as family work recognition and protection. An optional debit for the
basic security or for home ownership may contribute especially to old-age security.
Here, the eastern and Baltic countries are at the top with a rate of 78 to 96
percent. Germany, with about 51.5 percent is next to last in the order of
things, with Switzerland, even worse, at 42 percent.
One
means of promoting home ownership was the own house subsidy [Eigenheimzulage] which was unfortunately
abolished in the year 2006. §27b UstG [Umsatzgesetz,
turnover tax] also falls under tempus
passat. Introduced in 2018, the Baukindergeld
proposed by the KfW was a decision in the right direction.
Vice-president Hans-Peter Friedrich:
Frau colleague, please come to an end.
Michael Schrodi (SPD): Come to the
topic!
It
can however cause no surprise. We demand the straight reduction of the real
property sales tax for families with children purchasing real estate for their own
use. With three children, it should be completely omitted. Also, low-interest
credit for this purpose would be worthy of consideration.
Vice-president Hans-Peter Friedrich: Frau colleague,
please come to the end – last sentence.
The
interruption was not counted, or?
Vice-president Hans-Peter Friedrich:
The time is run out.
Please?
Vice-president Hans-Peter Friedrich:
The time is now run out. You had four minutes.
But
if I an always being interrupted. Thus, I want a moderated value added tax on
goods and services for children's needs and a reduction of the tax
component of electricity costs for all participants.
Vice-president Hans-Peter Friedrich:
So, Frau colleague, now enough.
There
is still much to done to help do right by our families.
Petra Sitte (Linke): You have only won the speaking time because the president is gracious to older people!
[trans: tem]
